---
title: npm-uninstall
section: 1
description: Remove a package
github_repo: npm/cli
github_branch: release/v9
github_path: docs/lib/content/commands/npm-uninstall.md
redirect_from:
  - /cli-documentation/v9/cli-commands/npm-uninstall
  - /cli-documentation/v9/cli-commands/uninstall
  - /cli-documentation/v9/commands/npm-uninstall
  - /cli-documentation/v9/commands/uninstall
  - /cli-documentation/v9/npm-uninstall
  - /cli-documentation/v9/uninstall
  - /cli/v9/cli-commands/npm-uninstall
  - /cli/v9/cli-commands/uninstall
  - /cli/v9/commands/uninstall
  - /cli/v9/npm-uninstall
  - /cli/v9/uninstall
---

### Synopsis

```bash
npm uninstall [<@scope>/]<pkg>...

aliases: unlink, remove, rm, r, un
```

### Description

This uninstalls a package, completely removing everything npm installed on its behalf.

It also removes the package from the `dependencies`, `devDependencies`, `optionalDependencies`, and `peerDependencies` objects in your `package.json`.

Further, if you have an `npm-shrinkwrap.json` or `package-lock.json`, npm will update those files as well.

`--no-save` will tell npm not to remove the package from your `package.json`, `npm-shrinkwrap.json`, or `package-lock.json` files.

`--save` or `-S` will tell npm to remove the package from your `package.json`, `npm-shrinkwrap.json`, and `package-lock.json` files. This is the default, but you may need to use this if you have for instance `save=false` in your `npmrc` file

In global mode (ie, with `-g` or `--global` appended to the command), it uninstalls the current package context as a global package. `--no-save` is ignored in this case.

Scope is optional and follows the usual rules for [`scope`](/cli/v9/using-npm/scope).

### Examples

```bash
npm uninstall sax
```

`sax` will no longer be in your `package.json`, `npm-shrinkwrap.json`, or `package-lock.json` files.

```bash
npm uninstall lodash --no-save
```

`lodash` will not be removed from your `package.json`, `npm-shrinkwrap.json`, or `package-lock.json` files.

### Configuration

#### `save`

- Default: `true` unless when using `npm update` where it defaults to `false`
- Type: Boolean

Save installed packages to a `package.json` file as dependencies.

When used with the `npm rm` command, removes the dependency from `package.json`.

Will also prevent writing to `package-lock.json` if set to `false`.

#### `global`

- Default: false
- Type: Boolean

Operates in "global" mode, so that packages are installed into the `prefix` folder instead of the current working directory. See [folders](/cli/v9/configuring-npm/folders) for more on the differences in behavior.

- packages are installed into the `{prefix}/lib/node_modules` folder, instead of the current working directory.
- bin files are linked to `{prefix}/bin`
- man pages are linked to `{prefix}/share/man`

#### `workspace`

- Default:
- Type: String (can be set multiple times)

Enable running a command in the context of the configured workspaces of the current project while filtering by running only the workspaces defined by this configuration option.

Valid values for the `workspace` config are either:

- Workspace names
- Path to a workspace directory
- Path to a parent workspace directory (will result in selecting all workspaces within that folder)

When set for the `npm init` command, this may be set to the folder of a workspace which does not yet exist, to create the folder and set it up as a brand new workspace within the project.

This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.

#### `workspaces`

- Default: null
- Type: null or Boolean

Set to true to run the command in the context of **all** configured workspaces.

Explicitly setting this to false will cause commands like `install` to ignore workspaces altogether. When not set explicitly:

- Commands that operate on the `node_modules` tree (install, update, etc.) will link workspaces into the `node_modules` folder. - Commands that do other things (test, exec, publish, etc.) will operate on the root project, _unless_ one or more workspaces are specified in the `workspace` config.

This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.

#### `include-workspace-root`

- Default: false
- Type: Boolean

Include the workspace root when workspaces are enabled for a command.

When false, specifying individual workspaces via the `workspace` config, or all workspaces via the `workspaces` flag, will cause npm to operate only on the specified workspaces, and not on the root project.

This value is not exported to the environment for child processes.

#### `install-links`

- Default: false
- Type: Boolean

When set file: protocol dependencies will be packed and installed as regular dependencies instead of creating a symlink. This option has no effect on workspaces.

### See Also

- [npm prune](/cli/v9/commands/npm-prune)
- [npm install](/cli/v9/commands/npm-install)
- [npm folders](/cli/v9/configuring-npm/folders)
- [npm config](/cli/v9/commands/npm-config)
- [npmrc](/cli/v9/configuring-npm/npmrc)
